Minneapolis Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing Stolen Firearms that he Attempted to Sell (DOJ)

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Howard Ozell Crenshaw, a Minneapolis man, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing stolen firearms that he then attempted to sell, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to court documents, on December 2, 2022, an undercover (UC) law enforcement officer called Howard Ozell Crenshaw, 34, to express interest in purchasing firearms. Crenshaw informed the undercover law enforcement officer that he had an AR-15 rifle and two Berretta handguns available for sale, which the UC officer agreed to purchase for $2,600. The pair agreed to meet on December 13, 2022, to complete the transaction.

On the day of their meeting, the UC officer agreed to purchase an addition shotgun from Crenshaw for $500. They met as planned on December 13, 2022, and Crenshaw entered the UC officer's vehicle, abruptly exited and called the UC officer, directing him to drive to a different location one block away. Crenshaw explained that he had placed the firearms in a residential trash can in a nearby alley. The UC officer retrieved the four firearms and tossed Crenshaw a roll of cash totaling $2,600. Shortly thereafter, the UC agent called Crenshaw and explained that he had placed the additional $500 in the same trash can the defendant had used for the firearms. Crenshaw later returned to the trash can and collected the additional $500.

According to court documents, Crenshaw sold the UC agent a Benelli M1 Super 90 12-guage shotgun; an Armalite .223 AR-15 rifle; a Beretta model M9 nine-millimeter handgun; and a Beretta model M9 nine-millimeter handgun from Crenshaw. A subsequent record check on the firearms revealed that they had been reported stolen following the November 19, 2022, burglary of a home in St. Paul.

Because Crenshaw has four prior felony convictions, including for Drug Sale - 1st Degree, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

"Crenshaw is a four-time convicted felon and drug dealer who decided to sell stolen firearms," said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. "I am proud of the excellent work of our federal partners at ATF to take yet another dangerous criminal off the streets."

Crenshaw pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court before Judge Susan R. Nelson to one count of illegal possession of firearms as felon. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 5, 2025.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.